Tuesday 27th May 1975

Second Floor Corridor, 15:30

"The exams are ages away, Lily," Marlene said with a sigh, looking longingly out the window.

She really did not want to go and revise now. It was such a nice day, not a cloud in the sky.

Lily spun around (and thankfully released her deathly grip on Marlene's arm) and put her hands on her hips.

"They aren't ages away, Marlene McKinnon. Three weeks! Not even! The exams start on the eighteenth!"

"Yeah, but only the Muggle Studies and Divination exams are on that day," she replied dismissively.

They were lumped together because they had the shortest written papers.

"Marlene, you take Divination."

"And?"

What was the point? Marlene knew she did Divination - she had been taking it for the past two years after all.

Lily rolled her eyes and made an exasperated noise. Thankfully, she was never the type to lecture about revising and grades so Marlene was spared that.

"Don't you think you at least need to start revising? We covered a lot of things this year."

That was true. An OWL year and all that. Healing and Transfiguration in particular were the worst for it mind you. The two most difficult subjects to boot. At least Healing had made her feel more confident about her Potion brewing skills so that was one less subject to worry about. Not that she was doing a lot of worrying.

Nope. Marlene McKinnon did not do any of this worrying nonsense about her exams. Well, not ones that mattered. She would worry about her OWLs next year and then her NEWTs because they actually meant something. Unlike end of year exams.

"I didn't take you for such a swot."

"I am not a swot."

"You're revising. In May. For exams. In June."

Maybe if she spoke in short sentences the genius would be able to understand her. A whole month was way too far away to be revising for exams, surely, she could see that?

"Yes. The eighteenth of June. A fortnight away."

Marlene shrugged. "Meh, that's plenty of time."

"Well, I actually want to get grades higher than an A."

Ouch. Okay, she deserved that one.

"I get EEs as well!"

"Yes, when I make you revise."

Marlene pulled a face but couldn't exactly argue about it. She could get good grades but she definitely had to work for them, unlike Lily here who just seemed to naturally get things to click the first or second time. It would be annoying if she wasn't always so dammed sweet and not braggy about it.

"Rude."

That was a statement, not an argument. One that Lily did not appreciate as she seized her by the arm again and started to drag her into the Library. For someone so slight she was actually really strong. Sheesh.

It looked like she was going to be doing some revision today. Yay.

Friday 30th May 1975

Gryffindor Fourth Year Boys Dorm, 20:00

"I'm going to try again," James said determinedly, shutting his textbook with a snap.

They had all been pouring over the books on animals Remus had made them check out, trying to learn about them. It was difficult because they hadn't thought to go to a room with a mirror in it so they didn't know exactly what their forms looked like. Just what the others could remember.

For example, they knew Sirius was a dog, a Black one ironically enough, with lots of shaggy fur but neither James nor Peter could remember any details other than that.

That and James was quite frankly sick of reading. It was dry. It was boring. It was really just no fun at all. He was ready to do something fun. Hell, even homework was looking tempting. It was a good thing they had something far better to do or else he might actually do it.

"You sure you've got a picture of yourself firmly in your head?" Remus asked doubtfully.

"I do. I know what a stag looks like," James said confidently.

Because that what he was. A stag. Not just a deer like Sirius kept saying. A stag. Just like on the Potter coat of arms!

Peter actually had it the easiest because he was a rat. And, well, a rat was a rat. Very easy to get pictures of. It was cool the way they had those little hands. But a stag was definitely way cooler even if there was a lot more he had to memorise. But he was pretty sure he had done it!

Remus didn't look too convinced but he was always such a worrywart so James just ignored him as he stood into the middle of the room. He didn't want to break anything once he transformed, after all. He was the biggest animal here. Not that he had bragged about that or anything. Oh, of course he had! But stags were awesome, remember?

"Watch this," he said and closed his eyes.

Then he concentrated. And concentrated. And concentr-

"Shhh!" Sirius voice went harshly at Peter's mumble.

"Sirius!" Remus yelped as James squinted an eye open in annoyance.

James sighed heavily. They were his friends; they were his friends...

"I didn't say anything!" Peter said.

"You did!"

"I didn't!"

"Guys!" James snapped, making the both fall silent. "Trying to transform here."

"Sorry, James," Peter squeaked.

Yes, he actually squeaked because he was a rat. Huh, that was actually kind of funny. Squeaky Peter, ha.

Everyone fell silent again and finally James could concentrate. First, he visualised the head of the stag, the pointed face with those big, strong antlers. Then there was the neck and the body and the four legs with hooves on the end. Pretty easy stuff to remember.

"Big antlers, big antlers," he muttered to himself, scrunching his eyes up.

He could practically see them come out of his head. Then he felt a pressure on each side of his head. Like something was pressing down.

Three identical gasps came from around him and Peter squeaked again. James made a huffing noise as he gave himself a shake. Yep, definitely still had arms and legs.

"James," Remus said in a wary tone.

He opened his eyes and sighed as he saw hands.

"It didn't work," he complained.

"Oh, it worked," Sirius chuckled.

James gave him a strange look as James knew he was very much still a human.

Wordlessly, Peter pulled a mirror over to him with Remus' help. James gasped at his reflection.

"I have antlers!" he exclaimed, not knowing whether to be joyful or worried.

Hesitantly reaching up, James brushed his hand along on of the points. The pointy bits were literally called that, he had discovered. His fingers met smooth bone and they recoiled. That was definitely real. No illusion there.

"I have antlers!"

"We gathered that," Remus said drily but exchanged a worried look with Sirius and Peter.

"Can I touch them?" Sirius asked, reaching his hand out.

"Sure," James replied slightly anxiously.

Nothing in the books talked about how animals felt. Would it hurt? Would he feel anything? Do antlers move? Okay, that was just the nerves talking.

"Feels cold," Sirius announced.

Wait, he was already touching him? He didn't feel any of it. This was so weird. And awesome. But mainly weird.

"This is weird," Sirius unwittingly agreed. "You have horns."

"Antlers," James and Remus corrected in unison.

"Same thing."

They most certainly were not! James couldn't help but bristle at that statement and proceeded to give Sirius a very detailed lecture on beams, pearls, all the different types of tines (which were not horns) and the pedicle. Even Remus looked somewhat impressed by the end of it.

"At least now we know why just the antlers appeared on you," Peter said with a chuckle. "Is that the only thing you learned about deer?"

"I'm a stag," James corrected with a pout. "And... maybe?"

That got a sigh from Remus was the lankier boy pinched the bridge of his nose.

"It bought that was the only thing I needed to learn about," he said defensively. "I know what a stag body looks like!"

"Obviously not your stag body," Remus said pointedly. "Or else you would have transformed fully."

Ouch. That was true. Very true. Sirius let out a bark of laughter.

"Think you're going to have to try again," Sirius told him.

Well, that much was obvious.

"Now, how do you make them go away?" James mused, running his hands up and down them. It was kind of a nice feeling under his palms, all smooth.

"Just think them away?" said Peter.

"Is it that easy?" Sirius asked sceptically.

"That's what they said for when you're turning from animal to human and vice versa."

"Yeah, when you're completely an animal," Sirius waved his hand at James. "Not when you've got parts of one on you."

"It better be," Remus interrupted the two of them. "James can't go around with antlers on his head."

"Maybe I'll start a new trend."

"No."

Tuesday 3rd June 1975

Great Lake, 17:00

Regulus sighed in relief as he arrived at the Lake. Perfect. Yes, there were loads of students here and they were all having loads of un but they weren't paying attention to him. Which is what he needed right now, hence the slipping away.

He loved being in Slytherin, don't get him wrong. It was where he was supposed to be after all. Perfect for him in every way.

It was just... well... sometimes he just had to get away. Get away from the being watched and having to do the watching. Being on top of things, one, no, three steps ahead. It was a lot. And normally it was fine - he revelled in it even. But everyone needed a break. He was human, after all.

There weren't a lot of places where Regulus Black, Prince of Slytherin, could take a break. He was one of the most important members of Slytherin House, which wasn't a brag just the honest truth. That unfortunately meant that he had people around him at all times. People looking for his favour, wanting favour, wanting to improve their standing. Again, it was great, they normally amused him but back again to the exhausting.

The Lake was a good place to relax. Very calm, very blue, very airy. Regulus could take deep breaths here and just let everything wash over him. Well, everything except the water. There was no way he was getting in that. No thank you. He would bet his shoes and robes all wet.

Eyeing the students splashing ahead of him, Regulus shook his head. He never saw the point of paddling along the water's edge or what attracted other people to it. Sirius even liked it. It just seemed so pointless and... wet. Sand between your toes was not a good feeling.

Not that that mattered because he wasn't going into the Lake. He just wanted to walk around it. Be by himself. Plunging his hands into his robe pockets (oh, the horror) Regulus did just that. It always amazed him just how big The Lake was. The people on the other side looked like figurines from here and he couldn't even see what they were doing never mind hear them. Not that Regulus would be listening. He did enough of that in the Slytherin Common Room. He needed a break.

The lake was definitely his favourite place to do that. Few of his acquaintances came down here at all and none of them ever got close to the water's edge. They might get splashed or something.

All the better for him. It was nice to be alone sometimes. Actually, he very much preferred it. Being the centre of attention was not his idea of fun. He wasn't used to it. Oh, he was used to his family being the centre of attention- they were Blacks after all. But not him himself. He was the spare, remember? Hardly important except for general alliances. Sirius was supposed to be the important one. The one who had to deal with all the attention and pressure. But he wasn't in the same House, was he? No, he was up in that stupid Tower, leaving Regulus to himself.

He kicked at a stone and it landed with a 'SPLASH' in the water. That was somewhat satisfying. So, he did it again. And again. Until he realised how stupid he must look and then he stopped. This was meant to be a calm, relaxing walk. Not one where he took his anger out on some poor, defenceless rocks. He didn't want to think about anyone. Because thinking about people meant thinking about how they thought and how he would have to respond to it. It was exhausting. And he was tired. There was just so much stuff going on now that he just wanted some time doing nothing.

Regulus went back to walking and tried to let the gentle lapping of the water calm his thoughts again. And it did. Water was pretty amazing like that. Of course, it helped that it was such a warm day as well so it was actually enjoyable to be down here. Normally there was a cool breeze that cut right through you and any warming charm you could cast.

Then he saw his brother and his friends across the Lake. The only people who were easy to identify at this distance because Potter still had those stupid antlers on his head. One of their pranks had definitely gone wrong. Professor McGonagall reportedly refused to fix them to 'teach them a lesson'. Privately, Regulus didn't think that they could be taught. Idiots. They were actually getting stupider by the year instead of wiser. Quite spectacular, even by Gryffindor standards.

And he was going to have to walk right past them, wasn't he? Yes. Yes, he was because of course they all had to be in the water acting like, like children. And Sirius and Potter were in further than the rest of them because of course they were. They were probably soaked and, he squinted over at them, neither of them was wearing their robes. Absolutely no decorum whatsoever.

Regulus gave them one last long look and shook his head. For once, he didn't turn on his heel and leave. The Marauders were not going to spoil this calming walk of his (that really wasn't all that calming). They weren't.

Thursday 5th June 1975

Fourth Year Gryffindor Boys Dorm, 21:30

They had finally done it. They had finished their map of the school. It had taken weeks and months and more than one foray through the school at night under James' invisibility cloak for nothing more than a look down a corridor (a wasted prank opportunity in Sirius' opinion) but it was done. James had finished it. Actually, James had done most of the work because he was the one drawing it but the rest of them were quite relieved that it was done. No more scraps of paper with the same corridor drawn on it five times. No more accidentally spilling something on awkwardly placed parchment (James really couldn't keep his things organised). It was finished. And it was big. Really big. Like several bits of parchment taped together big. It had to be to fit in the whole school like it did.

"What do we do with the map now?" James asked, waving it about in a manner that made Sirius quite nervous. "We already know our way around the school."

"Even more now thanks to the research for this." Remus pointed out, tidying up the rejected pieces of parchment and stacking them into a nice pile.

They all stared at their masterpiece. It was pretty impressive.

"It would be more useful if we could see people coming and going." Peter absentmindedly commented.

They all turned to look at him, making him blush.

"What?"

James clapped him on the back.

"You really are a genius, Petey."

Sunday 8th June 1975

Library, 15:00

Remus sighed happily as he entered the Library. Nothing beat the complete silence of it or the smell of old books. It was just perfect. Relaxing and full of knowledge, who could ask for more? Not him. Well, except for maybe a lifetime supply of chocolate. But that wasn't going to be forthcoming any time soon (unfortunately) so the Library was the next best thing for him. Especially since it was the Hogwarts library. Was there really any better library?

"Soaking in the Library again?" an amused voice asked from behind him.

"Maybe."

Lily snorted and must have shaken her head because he got a sudden whiff of her shampoo. Lavender. It was very soothing.

"Well, there's no time for that," she instructed, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him over to their usual table.

Well, she tugged at him and he obliged her by walking over because Lily Evans didn't really have a lot of upper body strength. She was, however, scary so Remus did what she wanted. Which was to go to their usual table.

No one was at it meaning they didn't have to go looking for another one. Unusual, considering it was quite firmly revision time for most people. Sure, the Library may not be packed but it was pretty full. Not that he was complaining. There was nothing more soul-destroying than looking for a non-existent free table.

"No friends today?" Lily asked as they settled themselves and pulled their textbooks out.

He shook his head. "No, too nice a day for them. Yours?"

"Same," she replied in a disgruntled tone.

Remus couldn't help but smile. They really were in the same boat- both took their studies fairly seriously but had friends who decidedly did not.

"At least your friends do well in school without trying. Marlene doesn't."

She had a point there, for the first bit not the second. He didn't know what McKinnon's study habits were or her academic abilities. His friends, however, did have the annoying ability to do well in exams with barely any work. James and Sirius in particular.

Sure, Remus knew he was good at school and had a natural ability to understand things quickly but he still had to work to get top grades. Something James and Sirius had yet to understand.

"At least we're doing the sensible thing," he reassured her.

"True. Now quiz me on these curses," she replied, handing him her open Defence Textbook with scrawls of notes all around the margins.

Wednesday 18th June 1975

Transfiguration Classroom, 14:30

Marlene cracked her knuckles and looked up at the clock. She had forty-five minutes left. Great. She kept on forgetting that she was in the Transfiguration classroom, after all she was doing her Divination exam. But because of the way they all had to spread out it meant that the middle of the alphabet was in this classroom. Which was just weird.

"Eyes on your paper, Miss McKinnon," Professor Flitwick chided her from the front.

Yes, because she could really cheat when her neighbours were eight feet away from her. She wasn't a cat. Like McGonagall. Great, now she was thinking about Transfiguration. Focus, Marlene, Focus!

Tea leaves, tea leaves, that's what the next section of the exam was on. She could do this. She knew her tea leaves. Mainly because she actually did revise when Lily asked her to. Well, most of the time. She had even memorised all the tea leave patterns and their meanings.

"What do arrows mean when they are present around the side of the cup?" she read off the exam paper.

Arrows. Side of cup. Arrows. Arrows were bad messages or news. Great. That's really what she wanted to think about during an exam. Side of the cup. Was that in the medium term or long term? Rim was the present and the bottom was the distant future but what on earth was the side? Marlene couldn't remember.

She scrunched up her forehead in thought and absentmindedly started chewing on her quill. Except it was on the wrong end and she got the nasty taste of ink in her mouth.

"Yeurgh!" she exclaimed, spitting it to the floor with a wet 'splat'.

"Miss McKinnon!"

Monday 23rd June 1975

Gryffindor Table, Great Hall, 07:30

"I thought you hated the stuff?" Marlene asked, watching in amazement as Lily poured herself a second cup and downed it in one.

Lily couldn't help but wince as the liquid hit her tongue. She thought she had thrown it back enough that it would just hit the back of her throat.

"I do. It's horrible."

"Then, why are you drinking it?"

"Needs must."

She had three exams today. Three. Defence, Spell-crafting and Herbology. Trust her, she needed the caffeine. Apparently, fourth years knew enough to have two-hour long exams. Who on earth decided that? No one with good intentions, that's who. They had made her resort to coffee of all things. Coffee! It had to be the most disgusting liquid known to man but it would keep her awake and going throughout today.

She quickly started flipping through her Defence textbook, absentmindedly noting that Remus strangely wasn't at the table. The exam was in less than an hour and a half and she didn't feel like she was ready at all.

Wednesday 25th June 1975

Fourth Year Gryffindor Boys Dorm, 16:00

This was the best time of year. Not just because it was summer and school was nearly over, though that played a big part in it too, but because it was the end of the year and that only meant one thing. The Big Prank. The thing they did at the end of every school year. Their now long-standing tradition that the whole school held their breath for. The Prank.

It had to be spectacular. It had to be amazing. Better than last year and every year before that. It had to inspire shock and awe. Something that everyone would be talking about until next year's prank.

Too bad none of them could come up with an idea that they all agreed with. Not even a little bit. Even the colour of the finishing banner wasn't agreed on and it was a banner. Seriously, they were starting to run out of time. There wasn't even a week left of school and they had nothing. Nothing.

"I think we should turn everyone into different animals." James announced over the book he was reading.

"Didn't Lily tell you not to do that?" Remus asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Not exactly.",

Why did Remus have to have such a good memory? And why did he have to bring Evans into this? Now that's all he was going to be able to think about. Would she think it was funny? Hilarious? Genius? This was important!

"I'm pretty sure she did."

"No," James shook his head.

Remus sighed and made a gesture for the book. Yes! He had given in! Because, he, James Potter, was obviously a genius in these matters.

"It won't actually make people become animals because that would be the Animagus Transformation but it will make them look like animals," Remus explained, reciting the relevant paragraph from the book.

"So, everyone will still be able to speak and stuff?" asked Peter.

"Looks like it... though it does say your voice with be 'heavily influenced by the animal', whatever that means..."

Oh, that made it even more interesting sounding.

"Does it give people animal instincts?" Sirius asked. "We don't want to turn someone into a mouse only for someone who's a cat to try and eat them."

"Look at you being all responsible," James teased.

Sirius made an outraged noise and gave him a thump. Of course, James had to retaliate and it turned into an all-out scuffle that neither Remus nor Peter paid any attention to except to move out of the way.

"It's not a Transfiguration," Remus read loudly. "So that's a no to the animal behaviour. It's just a charm."

"That's good, right?" Peter checked.

"Very," Remus agreed, closing the book with a snap. "Are you two quite finished?" he asked loudly.

That made him and Sirius freeze. James was winning, if he said so himself, with his leg hooked around both of Sirius'. Though Sirius was giving his hair a good yank. Which was painful but once he got a chance to shove him in the stomach, he would be the victor!

"In a minute," he replied. "I've nearly won here.

"You have not!" Sirius said indignantly.

"I have!"

They were about to start again but then they both found themselves on opposite ends of the room and Remus had his wand out looking very unimpressed.

"You're finished," he said firmly.

"Of course," James readily agreed, pointedly not getting off Sirius.

"Indeed," Sirius added, tightening his grip on James' hair.

"Now."

James looked at Sirius and both of them shrugged and released their grips on each other. It took them a moment to untangle themselves and crowd behind Remus to read the details of the spell.

James suddenly realised that the world was very much a blur.

"Anyone seen my glasses?"

"Here," Peter said, pressing them into his hand. "I floated them away when they fell off your face so neither of you broke them."

See, this is why his friends were amazing.

"Thanks," he said gratefully.

If they broke that would have been the seventh pair that would have had to been replaced in four years. There was only so much a Reparo could do.

His world came into focus for him and the first thing he saw was Peter frowning at the page.

"Maybe we shouldn't do it at the Leaving Feast. We don't want to stop people from eating..."

"It's tradition." James insisted.

They couldn't very well do their Leaving Feast Prank not at the Leaving Feast! That... that was just unheard of!

"Do you want to see people try to eat with hooves?"

"... Fair point. Maybe at the announcements at the end? It could be out big finale?"

"That implies we're doing more things to work up to it."

"Oh, don't be such a spoilsport, Remus!"

They could sort out little details like that later. The important thing was that they were most definitely doing this prank. No ifs and no buts. It was going to be hilarious. But maybe not so simple. There were always so many questions associated with big pranks like this. It really was only to be expected.

"How are we going to make sure everyone is a different animal?"

"Are there even enough animals?"

"There are more species of beetle than any other animal combined," Remus told them.

They all stared at him.

"How do you even know that?" Sirius demanded.

Friday 27th June 1975

Hufflepuff Common Room, 16:00

Tonks stood on tiptoe to try and read the noticeboard. Not that it helped much. It sucked being the height of some first years. Really sucked. She was fourteen for crying out loud. There were eleven-year-olds who were taller than her. Eleven-year-olds. That was a three-year age difference! It just wasn't fair.

What also wasn't fair that, despite her being a third year, there were a bunch of first years blocking her way. Honestly the gall of some of these kids. Where was their fear of the upperclassmen? Their uncertainty?

You see, the exam results were out and their year rankings were on display just like always. Oh, Tonks hoped that she wasn't too far down it. Definitely not more than half way. That would just be awful. Although she was definitely not a swot (they had a whole House for that for crying out loud), she did like to get good exam results.

With liberal use of her elbows (she had found out how to morph them to be particularly pointy) Tonks finally made it to the noticeboard. Quickly scanning it she soon found her name.

"Yes!" She cheered, pumping her fist in the air.

She was twelfth in the year and second in Hufflepuff overall. Woo hoo! She went up three places from last year's ranking for her whole year. Cool! And she was top in Defence! Doubly cool! Wicked even!

Oh, mum and dad were going to be so proud of her!

Sunday 29th June 1975

Fourth Year Gryffindor Boys Dorm, 19:00

James paused in his packing to look around him. Another year almost over. It went by so fast. Every year seemed to go faster and faster. Next year was their OWL year and then it would be their NEWTs and then they would all be adults and graduating and leaving and- No! He didn't want to think of that. They were nowhere near that.

Anyway, he had other things to worry about. More pressing things. Mote immediate things.

Was it wrong to be so worried about your friends? Because James was. Remus because there would be two full moons where he wouldn't be able to see Remus immediately after. Who knew what state he would be in? Who would bring him chocolate in the middle of the night? Who would tell him awful jokes to get him rolling his eyes?

And then there was Sirius. Sirius, Sirius, Sirius. He was the most worried about Sirius. For good reason. His family were definitely not great no matter what he said or didn't say. They all saw the results of him going home for the holidays, how stiff he was and how carefully blank his face was. James hated that look. It reminded him of first month Sirius who didn't know how to have a lot of fun.

Then there was Peter. The one James least worried about. Of course, he still thought about Peter. He was one of his best friends after all, a Marauder. But nothing exactly threatened Peter. His parents were decent and he didn't rip himself apart once a month. He was safe. Which was a good thing because two friends were more than enough to worry about.

He shut his trunk with a snap. There was no point in worrying over things he couldn't change, was there? Why did that never work?

"James?"

"Hmm?" He turned to face Sirius.

He was holding out a pair of trousers.

"What were these doing under my bed?"

Monday 30th June 1975

Lily let out an annoyed sigh as they milled around the platform at Hogsmeade Station.

"You have to admit it was kind of hilarious," Marlene said with a grin.

"No." Lily said shortly.

The Marauders' End of Year Prank had definitely not been hilarious. Not at all. Actually, it had been downright stupid in her opinion. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Because that's what it was. Stupid.

"Well, I thought it was pretty hilarious."

"Of course, you did."

"Everyone else seemed to. Its only you that has an issue with it."

"I was a donkey. That brayed."

"A very cute donkey."

Lily did not appreciate that comment. Not at all. Especially since Marlene did not have any cause to complain. She actually got turned into a cute animal. A bunny. Who didn't like bunnies? Nobody. On the other hand, nobody liked donkeys. Least of all her. They just weren't very cute, okay?

"I bet Potter was behind it."

"Actually, I was more thinking Black was."

Lily crossed her arms. "Well, whoever it was, they weren't funny!"

Train Carriage, 11:00

"Why did you have to turn Evans into a donkey?" James demanded. "She was supposed to be a cat!"

Remus raised his hands in the air, "Don't look at me, I had the Hufflepuffs and the Professors tables to do."

"Mine was the Slytherin Table," Sirius said happily.

Of course, he was happy, he got to prank his brother and Snape and a few other people he really didn't like all at the same time.

Not that James was blaming either of those two, he did know who got which table and he had Ravenclaw. Which just left...

"I mixed up the sides of the table!" Peter wailed. The boy opposite her was supposed to be a donkey!"

"Peter!"